Apparatus for supporting a body on a gaseous cushion



Sept. 12, 1967 L. A. HOPKINS ETAl, 3,340,550

APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING A BODY ON A GASEOUS CUSHION Filed April 26;1966 7 sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS L. HOPKINS A12 TRIPP BY @amzWn,7@/z/m *MATTORACEYS Sept. 12, 1967 3,340,550

- APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING A BODY ON A GASEOUS CUSHION L A. HOPKINS ETALg7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 26, 1966 INVENTORY L. A HOPKINS A12. TRIPPv A TTOJQ/VIZYS Se t. 12, 1967 1.. A. HOPKINS ETAL 3,340,550

APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING A BODY ON A GASEOUS CUSHION Filed April 26,1966 27 Sheets-Sheet 5 Y INVENTORS L. A. HOPK INS A R. TR IPP ATIDE/V575 A. HOPKINS ETAL 3,340,550

APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING A BODY ON A GASEOUS CUSHION Sept. 12, 1967Filed April 26, 1966 27 Sheets-Sheet 4 W N N \w R i 1 Q mm Q \m Ki .\P\JV w L .A'. HOPKINS A.R. TRIPP W 944% P 12, 1967 L. A. HOPKINS ETAL3,340,550

APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING A BODY ON A GASEOUS CUSHION Filed April 26,1966 27 sheets-sheet s mm Mm w VP T N w y A R m 52min Sept. 12, 1967 L.A HOPKINS ETAL 3,340,550

APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING A BQDY ON A GASEOUS CUSHION g7 Sheets-Sheet 6Filed April 26, 1966 INVENTORY L. A. HOPKINS A R.TRIPP BY W, MZ,

A TTOENEYJ Sept. 12, 1967 1.. A. HOPKINS ETAL 3,340,550

I APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING A BODY 0N A GASEOUS CUSHION Filed April 26,1966 V 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 nfi bvzazs L. A. HOPKINS A.R.TRIPP g jz wnvm ATTOWEYS' Pt- 1967 L. A. HOPKINS ETAL 3,340,550

APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING A BODY ON A GASEOUS CUSHION Filed April 26,1966 27 Sheets-Sheet 8 JJVVZNTORS .L A. HOPKLNS A R.TRIPP BY W W MD ATTOPAZEKS p 12, 1967 L. A. HOPKINS ETAL 3,340,550

APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING A BODY ON A GASEOUS CUSHION g7 Sheets-Sheet 9Filed April 26, 1966 I I 111/] Ill/l INVZWTOES' L A HOPKINS A R .TRIPPBY CZWZZZWZ I WTTOENZYS 7 p 1 967 1.. A. HOPKINS ETAL 3,340,550

APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING A BODY ON A GASEOUS CUSHION Filed April 26,1966 27 Sheets-Sheet 10 IN VEN T0135 L A. HOPKINS A-R .TRIPP 22 wa/nz bzSe t. 12, 1967 1.. A. HOPKINS ETAL 3,340,550

APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING A BODY ON A GASEOUS CUSHION 27 Sheets-Sheet 1 1Filed April 26, 1966 JNmvToB: L A HQPKINS A .RTRIPP $55M, YM

Sept. 12, 1967. L. A. HOPKINS ETAL 3,340,550

APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING A BODY ON A GASEOUS CUSHION Filed April 26,1966 27 Sheets-Sheet 12 INVENTOZS' L A HOPKINS .5? W, WYM ATTUMJS p 1967L. A. HOPKINS ETAL 3,340,550

APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING A BODY ON A GASEOUS CUSHION 27 Sheets-Sheet 15Filed April 26, 1966 l. A HOPKINS A .1 2. TRIPP BY MM Arm/awr Se t. 12,1967 1.. A. HOPKINS ETAL 3,340,550;

APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING A BODY ON A GASEOUS CUSHION 27 Sheets-Sheet 14"Filed April 26, 1966 m S 25 mg m mm W V T p Z A L Sept. 12, 1967 FiledApril 26, 1966 L. A. HOPKINS ETAL APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING A BODY ON AGASEOUS CUSHION 7 Sheets-Sheet 15 izQZF 1 v VENTQES L A HOPKINSA.]2.T]2IPP Sept. 12, 1967 L. A. HOPKINS ETAL 3,340,550

APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING A BODY ON A GASEOUS CUSHION Filed A ril 26,1966 v 27 Sheets-Sheet 16 JNVEN'YUES' L .A HOPKINS A .R.'TRIPP Se t. 12,1967 L. A. HOPKINS ETAL 3,340,550

APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING A BODY ON A GASEOUS CUSHION Filed April 26,1966 27 Sheets-Sheet 17 ZN TEA/7UP) l, A, HOPKLNS A12 TRIPPATIZ'DEATEYJ' Se t. 12, 1967 L. A. HOPKINS ETAL 3,340,550

APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING A BODY ON A GASEOUS CUSHION Filed April 26,1966 27 Sheets-Sheet 18 IN'VE/VTOPJ L.A.HOPKINS AJZTRIPP Se t. 12, 1967L. A. HOPKINS ETAL 3,340,550

APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING A BODY ON A GASEOUS CUSHION g7 Sheets-Sheet 19Filed April 26, 1966 INT M2 025 A .R.TT21PP BY W @Lwrz ATTOMYS

1. APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING AT LEAST PART OF A BODY ON A GASEOUSSOLUTION COMPRISING A BASE STRUCTURE, FLEXIBLE BARRIER MEANS ATTACHED TOTHE BASE STRUCTURE, THE BARRIER MEANS BEING CONSTRUCTED FROM FLEXIBLESHEET MATERIAL AND BEING INFLATABLE SO AS TO COOPERATE WITH THE BASESTRUCTURE AND BODY PART WHEN THE BODY PART IS BROUGHT INTO A CONTIGUOUSRELATIONSHIP WITH THE BARRIER MEANS AND DEFINE WITH THE BODY PART ANDTHE BASE STRUCTURE A CUSHION SPACE, AND MEANS FOR SUPPLYING PRESSURIZEDGAS TO THE CUSHION SPACE SO AS TO FORM THEREIN A CUSHION OF PRESSURIZEDGAS TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO THE BODY PART, SAID BARRIER MEANS INCLUDING APLURALITY OF BARRIER MEMBERS DISPOSED IN TWO ROWS FACING EACH OTHERACROSS THE TOP OF THE BASE STRUCTURE, AND ARRANGED SO THAT WHEN THEBARRIER MEANS ARE INFLATED, BUT BEFORE THE BODY PART IS BROUGHT INTOCONTIGUOUS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE BARRIER MEANS, OPPOSITELY FACINGBARRIER MEMBERS FORM A SURFACE EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY ACROSS THE TOP OFTHE BASE STRUCTURE.